By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, DEC. 13, 2012) —In the Old Testament, we read the story of wise King Solomon, who had to decide the fate of a baby. Two women were both claiming to be the mother. After hearing testimony, Solomon realized he couldn’t be sure. He then came up with the most brilliant resolution of litigation since Judge Mark Moore found for the First Amendment and freed THE PLANET from the flimsy Nilan Gulag. Solomon said he couldn’t tell which woman was telling the truth and ordered the baby to be cut in half, top half to one of the women, bottom to the other. The real mother shrieked and said she would give up her claim, simply to save the life of the child.

Solomon had divided by two and come up with the correct answer. He awarded the baby to its true mother.

Last night at the Pittsfield School Committee meeting, Chairman Alf Barbalunga, cast as Solomon, had to decide on two seemingly credible version of the same event. Did committeeman Terry Kinnas act in an intimidating and disruptive manner at a meeting of the Reid Middle School Council, Community Outreach Subcommittee, or did he not.

THE PLANET has been mulling one of the more bizarre public meetings we’ve ever attended in our many years as an ink-stained and microphone-wired wretch. We’re still trying to digest the marathon. We have urgent deadlines pressing, and will leave the story there, before it has even begun. Fear not, though. We shall add to it as the day goes one.

You won’t want to miss a syllable. Hint: We shall likely divide by two.

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BACK AGAIN, LATER IN THE DAY

It is now early afternoon. Fortified by a great Christmas lunch (Yes, PB, at Blantyre, with the governor, James Taylor, and our respective entourages). Allow us now to continue our story with several points.

— First, “K” for “Kafka” or “Kinnas”: We shall note that THE PLANET did not prepare for last night’s meeting by reading The Trial, an unfinished novel by Franz Kafka, although that would have been a good idea. The book tells the story of a man who’s arrested and charged with a crime by a shadowy, hidden authority (think GOB). Neither the accused, Joseph K. (“K” for “Kinnas”?), nor the readers ever learn the nature of K’s alleged crime. It leaves the reader with this odd, nebulous feeling of anxiety laced with gauze and cotton candy. That’s how THE PLANET felt last night watching the proceedings unfold and fold-up.

— Second, Open It Up: You want to know about Terry Kinnas? Consider this: He chose to have the hearing in the open. Is that the behavior of a “guilty” person? The agenda listed his hearing as an “Executive Session,” which is rules-of-order-speak for “It Ain’t None of Your Durn Business, So We’re Going to Do This Our Way, Behind Closed Doors.” Kinnas had the right to open it up, and true to his bones as a believer in transparency, he chose to let the TV lights shine on the proceedings. THE PLANET applauds that in the highest measure. To his credit, school committee chair Alf Barbalunga also commended Kinnas for opening it up to the public.

— Third, I’m Looking Through You, Where Did You Go? — Speaking of transparency, THE PLANET notes the scarcity of Mayor Dan Bianchi, who is a member of the school committee. Bianchi did not attend this important meeting. Why? Bianchi campaigned on a theme of “transparency,” and last night, he fulfilled his promise. He was so transparent that he wasn’t visible. We don’t know why the mayor skipped class, but it had better be a good one, better than the homework ate his dog. The most obvious explanation, which is usually though not always the best one and may or may not be in this case, is that Bianchi knew the meeting would be a hot one and chickened out.

— Fourth, Synchronicity: On Dec. 3, the Community Outreach Subcommittee of the Reid Middle School Council (COS Reid) filed its complaint with the school committee on Kinnas’ behavior at the subcommittee’s meeting of Nov. 14. Odd, isn’t it. As you read here (and ONLY here) yesterday, out-of-the-blue, both Barbara Malkas (ex Pittsfield asst. supt. of schools) and Glen Koocher (consulting with the school committee on the superintendent search) wrote to chairman Barbalunga. The respective dates of their letters: Dec. 4 and Nov. 30. Thus, the COS-Reid complaint of Dec. 3 fits into this timeline as snug as dictator hiding in a bunker. It’s another of those odd “coincidences” that often come up in Pittsfield at precisely the right time.

— Fifth, I’m Late I’m Late I’m Late: Why did it take the COS-R three weeks before deciding to file its complaint? If Julia Sabourin, COS-R chairwoman, was so upset, wouldn’t she have filed much sooner than that?

— Sixth, Lady Gag: After the meeting, THE PLANET caught up with Sabourin, who seemed as pleased to see us as a long-tailed cat is entering into a roomful of old people in rocking chairs. We wanted to ask Sabourin that question, “Why did you wait so long before filing?”, but she literally became tongue tied. It was if she had been gagged. Literally, so we started off with a simple question. We asked her how often her subcommittee meets. Sabourin became to elocution what Lady Gaga is to good taste. We smiled. We reassured Lady Gag it wasn’t a trick question. Finally, and mercifully, a Good Samaritan who did not give us her name came in and explained that Nov. 14 marked the first time ever that the COS-R had met.

— Seventh, A Clue!: This gave THE PLANET an important piece of relevant information, one that should have been in and on the record, since it might explain the COS-R’s misinterpretation of Kinnas’ manner, demeanor, and body language on the afternoon of Nov. 14. By the way, we never did get to ask Lady Gag why she waited so long to file. Was it a mere coincidence, or is there an alternate and more accurate reason that she didn’t want to disclose?

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BACK AGAIN, LATER IN THE DAY II

— Eighth, Col. Mustard in the Library with the Rope-a-Dope: When THE PLANET learned that the Nov. 14th meeting was the first time that COS-R had ever met, we made a reasonable conjecture: It was a subcommittee of greenhorns. It was Julia Sabourin’s first-ever experience as chair. It was the members’ first ever such gathering. If any group would have cause to violate open meeting or other procedural laws, it would be this one. Perhaps Kinnas complaints were justified. In that regard, we should point out for all to know that Kinnas’ complaint is now before the Attorney General, who has yet to make a decision. In other words, the AG might come back and say, Kinnas was right. He has a right to beef.

— Ninth, “Where’s the Beef?” — Kinnas did have a right to beef, judging by the facts upon which both sides agreed. COS-R (again, the Community Outreach Subcommittee of the Reid Middle School Council) (1) Began its so-called public — PUBLIC — meeting with the doors to Reid in locked position. THE PLANET asked Kinnas if he would have been on time had the doors been open, and the answer was yes. As it was, after ringing the door buzzer several times, he was let in. (2) COS-R didn’t think to post directional signs. Reid is a sizable building. Kinnas didn’t know the location of the meeting room. He had to ask. All this caused him to be 15 minutes late for the meeting. Let THE PLANET remind everyone that Kinnas was the only school board member who made it a point to attend. Alf Barbalunga didn’t bother. Kathy Yon didn’t bother. Jim Conant didn’t bother. Dan Bianchi didn’t bother. Dan Elias didn’t bother. So let’s take stock.

* The Nov. 14 meeting of the subcommittee was literally its first ever.

* It’s being led by a rookie chairperson who did not have the presence of mind to answer THE PLANET’s simple question last night: “How often does the subcommittee meet?” She should have replied, “I can’t say, since that as our first and only meeting to date.” But no. She stammered and acted as if I were asking her for the combination to the safe that holds the crown jewels.

* The subcommittee meets with the building’s doors locked.

* The subcommittee meets without any signage directing the public (REMEMBER: PUBLICMEETING) to the room.

* According to Kinnas’ testimony, when he finally entered the building, he encountered a man who identified himself as the dean of students. [RIDDLE: Since when does a Middle School have a "dean of students?" ANSWER: Since the Hackerama figured out they could create it and give another useless job to one of the oinkers feeding from the public trough]. Amazingly, Grace, this Dean (Chance? Martin?) told Kinnas that he, the dean, was not aware of a public meeting going on in the building. Uh, do we sense a disconnect here, among the usual gang of idiots at Reid Middle School? Wouldn’t the chairwoman notify the dean of students of the meeting? Then we learn an even more astounding fact: The chairwoman, Julia Sabourin, and the Reid dean of sudents, Ryan Sabourin, are wife and husband. Might be some communication issues at work.

— Tenth, “Feelings. Woah, woah, woah feelings“: If you boil the COS-R complain against Kinnas down to its essence, the chairwoman’s feelings were “hurt” when Kinnas entered to room and asked the logical question: Did she know what the hell she was doing?” Terry, being a gentleman and consummate professional, asked it far more politely. he asked who the chair was? Sabourin answered “I am” or words to that effect. Kinnas asked if he could have a seat. Sabourin said yes. Kinnas asked to speak. The chairwoman allowed it. For all this, and for caring enough to attend this meeting as a private citizen and not as a school committee member, Kinnas hurt Lady Gag’s feelings?

C’mon, give us a break.

Sabourin testified last night that Kinnas’ actions have taken away the subcommittee’s enthusiasm, optimism, and its “hey-gang-let’s-put-on-a-show” rah rah spirit.

Oh, really?

The only adult answer to that is, “Honey, step down from the chair. You’re not cut out for it.”

61 Responses to “PITTSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE ‘TRIAL’ of TERRY KINNAS: WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?”

Isn’t Alfred E.’No Show’ Barbalunga the guy who when he was probation chief in North Adams was cited by a number of judges as failing not only to do his work competently but also for not even showing up to work?
And isn’t ‘Alf’ the guy cited in the Mass. Probation Department scandal as one of those having been appointed to his position solely because his father was a sitting judge in Berkshire County?
And aren’t the details of Barbalunga’s patronage appointment, his poor work performance, and the sleazy deal to move him to the Southern Berkshire District Court’s Probation Department (along with a near doubling of his salary) part of the state Attorney General’s investigation into the Mass. Probation Department scandal, which details have still not been released to the public?
And so the political hack who got his job through nepotism and patronage and who now is chair of the Pittsfield School Committee is now complaining about a fellow committeeman, Terry Kinnas, who from all appearances seems to be doing his darndest to expose that committee’s sleazy dealings under Barbalunga, and also trying to get school officials to comply with state law.
How proud Democrats in Berkshire County must be of Alfred Barbalunga, their poster boy for good government.

Meant to add before I sent my message that Alf’s doing his best but he’s just in way over his head as is the rest of the committee except Mr. Elias. I was disappointed in Mayor Bianchi for not being there. It came off as scaredy-cat

Would it be an understatement to say that Mayor Dan Bianchi is more and more coming across as weak and lackluster.
He should absolutely positively have been at yesterday’s school committee meeting.
By not showing, he gives the impression of being afraid to grapple with the tough issues, but even more significantly, of being afraid to tangle with an arrogant clown like Barbalunga.
Can anyone here offer insight as to why Bianchi is now repeatedly wimping out when to get elected he was Mr. Tough Talk?

Alf is a waste of our tax money! Ask anyone who works for him. They can tell you that he does all his school committee work on state time. People vote his lazy ass off the committee, he sucks anyways and call the Attorney General’s office or the Gov and have him investigated. After all your taxes are paying for this dead beat’s salary of a $120.000 a year.

KEV
It looks like this entire episode has been engineered so that the GOB can get the headline they want to see: “Kinnas reprimanded.” The GOB thinks come election time that will be a detriment. Actually, that just got Terry re-elected, should he decide to re-up.

Does the school committee possess the chartered or statutory authority to reprimand anyone ? Is it a hearing or judicial body capable of administering due process ?
If not sue them personally and et al, Terry.
On a personal level however it is experienced in such matters, right little Alfie boy ? See; http://www.thetranscript.com/ci_15155729 .
What kind of panty waist, thin skinned, sissies do we have educating our children and alledgedly preparing them for a cold, hard world ? Did Da-Da’s little baby boy and his lachies get their wilttle feelings hurt ? Kinnas was openly accused of being red faced, and using a threatening tone of voice

and body language. Wow… Alfie and crew should visit Parris Island, Fort Gordon, Great Lakes, Lackland, etc. to see what body language and tone is all about. But Alfie probably has never been to any of these. Why should he the unearned silver spoon is just as mascline. Why, he and fellow probation officer Cliffy probably did basic in Maine.
This is aLollypop and pastel thong review. Palookaville is an understatement.

The committee members and the community are tired of Terry’ asking a question 300 different ways instead of 1 or 2 to get the right answer. The meetings should be about important issues. Mr Kinnas likes to waste time on things that aren’t so important I never realized that every committee meeting violates the open meeting laws according to Mr Kinnas. Mr Kinnas you have some great ideas just change your style and people will.apreciate you more.

No Terry was elected to ask questions and when you do not get strait answers, you ask again and again and again. He is aggressively doing the job that he was elected to do. But geez he’s not always nice? Vote him out if you do not like him, I’ll be voting for him and anyone who will be aggressive in reigning in the School Budget. Oh yeah BTW Alf will be gone next election

No Terry was elected to ask questions and when you do not get strait answers, you ask again and again and again. He is aggressively doing the job that he was elected to do. But geez he’s not always nice? Vote him out if you do not like him, I’ll be voting for him and anyone who will be aggressive in reigning in the School Budget. Oh yeah BTW Alf will be gone next election

I agree. They do not want to answer his questions because the truth would make them all look bad. So they become elusive and evasive and then wonder why he comes at them from a different angle. They simply want to shut him and others up so their game is not exposed.

And these are the same people who want to now be paid. Are you kidding me??? Am I hallucinating?

BH
The committee members? Partially true. All but Dan Elias.
The community? No. The community is largely in support of Terry.
No. “Every committee meeting violates the open meeting laws according to Mr Kinnas.” Actually, of the countless hundreds of meetings Terry has attended, he’s only filed two, count em, two open meeting complaints.
Yes. Mr. Kinnas “has some great ideas.”

Dan I’ve talked to a lot of people and they think he’s a joke I don’t , I just think he makes the meeting drag along on points that aren’t important. Terry has some good ideas he just needs to change his approach

Good point Ed if the School Committee has the power to reprimand a fellow member. I tried to look in the city code but found out that it was taken down from the internet. Is this because the charter review committee more less threw the old charter out, so we could get another one ? A reprimand seems a little Harsh to me for being boring and putting other members in Gotcha situation.

The School Committee doesn’t like Kinnas because he has the audacity to question them and make sure that important rules like the Open Meeting Law are followed.

There is way too much secrecy and whispering behind closed doors in Pittsfield that is supposed to be a substitute for actual governing and we need lots more transparency in Pittsfield to keep everything aboveboard and of course for those people who are getting away with a lot, transparency makes them very nervous.

PAT
Good one. It seems that only Terry and Dan Elias understand that the job. It’s to ask tough questions and find tougher answers. And you are entirely correct about far too much secrecy in the Pitts.

Kinnas is the only one on the committe, with the exception of Elias at times, who has the balls to ask questions and the GOB lackeys on the committee don’t like it.What basis did the Reid School Council have to file an open meeting law violation against Terry Kinnas? He hurt their feelings so he violated the open meeting laws? Those two excuses for men and that spoiled brat chairwoman need to join the real world and grow up. Just because
you’ve never been told “NO” in your lives doesn’t make you special in my book. John Reid is rolling over in his grave to see what represents the once fine school named after him.

The Good Old Boy network runs Pittsfield politics. If Michael Jordan in his prime was to play basketball for Pittsfield, he would be turned away if the Good Old Boy network didn’t like him. That is how Pittsfield politics is run by the Good Old Boy network. To get a job in Pittsfield, you have to be related to one of the low gene pool families like the Massimiano’s, Ruberto’s, et al. Or, you have to bend over and kiss their behinds. If you dare speak out against the insider and corrupt business dealings of Pittsfield politics, the Good Old Boy network makes you an outsider. They spread nasty rumors against you, file “ethics” complaints against you, vote for letters of reprimands against you, and the like. I support Dan Valenti’s blog postings because he stands up against the Good Old Boy network, as well as the vested interests that keep Pittsfield down-and-out. Pittsfield should stand up to the Good Old Boy network and vested interests, and give the government and community back to the people.

there was a point during the second open mic portion when the people speaking to the vocational program were coming up that Alf was caught trying to whisper to someone else something to the effect- this is the first person that didn’t speak last time and something else that was not flattering. I hope this is in the minutes because it was when the camera was on Alf when he said it. If not, Terry should not approve the minutes and make sure that these words are included, because I do not think the chair should be discouraging participation from the public

The chair, Alf, cut off two speakers during open mike, Terry at 3 minutes and Ken ramsdell at not even that. Mr. Ramsdell was flat .cut off by the attorney Mr. Dupere. However other speakers were allowed to go way past three minutes. It looks like to me a deliberate attempt to gag free speech. terrible job by the chair. When he apologized to the cameras, it should have been for his terrible behavior. AsDave says the chair should NOT be discouraging the public when ENcouraging them.

The Kangaroo Court that went on last night around peoples ‘feelings being bruised in a meeting was absolutely ridiculous. Why was the city’s attorney present? I also question the validity of this reprimand after considering the timeline. Are people really expected to believe that Ms. Malkus actually has the time to file a statement regarding Mr. Kinnas’ actions after leaving the district 6 months earlier? If anything this shows that Terry Kinnas is our only hope of creating change and he is experiencing payback because he has the strength to question what is really going on here.

Please bear in mind a few facts that are very important from last nights meeting.
Last night the Chair stated and it was reinforced by every member of the Committee including Mr Duprie, you are always a School Committee member and are expected to conduct yourself as one at all times. Mr Ware will be releasing his report on the probation department and we can reasonably conclude that “at all times” means well at all times. Can we conclude that in addition to any reprimands handed out from the SJC that the School Committee will be having a hearing to reprimand him as well? Will it be in open session?
Just wondering does someone have a copy of the video as I don’t think PCTV keeps copies forever and I no longer have a VCR

Speaking of hurt feelings…can you imagine how hurt the feelings of the children would be if they knew how this school committee operates? Can you imagine how hurt their feelings would be if they knew that the school committee operates for itself and not the children?

and speaking of children, these school committee members come across as immature as fourth graders

Your blog and Mr. Kinnas’behavior represent what are the problems with this community. You see conspiracies by government officials under every rock and hard working teachers and volunteers all having some other intent that need to be caught by the good work of people like Mr Kinnas. Then, there is Mr,
Kinnas, a school board member, who instead of working in a constructive and positive fashion with other board members to improve the Pittsfiekd schools feels the need to play some prosecutorial function. What great misdeed occurred in a community volunteer committee? He did not know the exact room(OMG)!,(he found the door locked), he should of course know as a school board member it is school policy with children in the building– he being the guru of policy, regardless a polite knock would grant he entry, two staff members are married(does he think they secretly discuss the agenda without him present? Seriously and sadly you and he could best spent your high energies not writing mindless blogs ( see if you publish this post) or his inane filings with the A.G. But spend time and your collective energies in volunteering in a constructive, collaborative fashion in volunteering yourself in a homeless shelter or the hospital. The game of getcha’ or caught ya’ is not making Pittsfield a better place to live but it will drive anyone from serving to volunteer at all. By the way, your picture looks great!

Sad thing about the public flogging is the mayor didn’t even have the backbone to attend. I am sure a good reason will be floated around for his absence but the empty chair spoke loud enough. I do not think his future as mayor looks bright which opens the door for the next connected flunky. The reality is this town is crumbling + decent tax paying people are leaving.